Agricultural implement



March` 16 1926.

w. H. MCCARTNEY AGnicumuRAL IMPLEMENT Filed June e, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN Y BY l! ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 16, ieze.`

UNITED STATES vWILLIAM H. MCCARTNEY, 0F SALEM, cancion.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT.

r ..lppliication filed .Tune 6,

',Tosall whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, lViLLIAM H kh/ICCART- 'Nm3 a citizen of the United States, resid- The primary object of this: invention isf the provisiomin .a manner as hereinafter set forth, of an agricultural implement for use in settingpl'ants having means for opening a furrow to receive the plant, means. for covering the plant after the same has been set in the furrow by an attendant riding on the, implement, and means for treading down the earth about theplant after -the saine has `been covered lby the covering means. Y f i The invention contemplates `the provision of a device inthe form of a sled having a deck thereonprovided with a centrally l whereinv likefnumerals of reference indicate y longitudinally extending.y well through which well there is suspended at the foiward` part of Ythe sled Iaflister wheel forl opening a furrow in the ground asthe sled is d rawn tliereo'ver. VMeans is provided in the purpose intended and inexpensive tok thewell forr supporting the plants to be set in the furrow by an attendant riding uponthe ydeckof the mechanism,.and after the plant has been set by the attendant, a scraper blade acts to replace the dirt in the furrow and aboutthe plantand following this scraper blade'is a means for packing the-dirt firmly about the plant so that the same cannotbecoine displaced or washed from the ground, i i

The mechanism ering the plant and packing the earth 'thereabout is so constructed that'any or all of the separate units may beraised from :the ground when the device is traveling over ground. in which plants are not to be placed.

A further and final object of the invention is the provision, in afinannei' as hereinafter set forth, of an agricultural yimplement for use in setting plants, which will bek strong and sturdy in construction, Aof neat and compact arrangement, very efficientfor construct. i

The invention will be best understood for opening the earth, cov-v 1921il Serial No. 718,298.

from ra consideration of the following ,detailed description taken in connection with PATE-1N .'iififica the accompanying drawings forming part.y

of thisv` specification, with the understanding, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed and'modified so long as such changes and4 modifications mark no material departure' from the salient features of the inventionr as expressed.

in the appended claim.

In fthe, drawings:

Figure 1 is a top planyview'of tlie'imple-- Vvment embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof. Figure 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view ofthe implement. y

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken upon the line 4;-4 of Figure l.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken upon the line 6--6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 kis a detail sectional view taken upon the line 7-7 of Figure 1.

Referring .now to the drawings in detail,

corresponding parts throughout.the'several views, tlievdeviceembodying this invention comprisesy a` pair of substantially elongated heavy parallel runner members orl skids 1 rconnected across the front end by the broad brace bar 2 which has its ends countersunk in the top edge ofthe runners 1 and the top thereof is flush with the top of the runners;`

' ing betweenand connecting the planks 3 at the forward end of the implement and supand cut back as indicated at -5 to slope with the slopingforward` ends of the runners as shown in Figure 2.

These side planks 8' and the forward central connecting plank 4 constitute a platform orfdeck for the device, leaving a central opening or well 6 between the runners Extending across the of theV implement. well 6 at appoint inwardly of the rear ends ported upon thebrace bar 2 is a broad conj necting plank 4, the nfront edge of which is flush with the-front edge of the runners of the runners and planks 2l is a connimting su )portingr .member 'T of substantial Width, this member 'T besides serving to connect the rear runners has an additional function which will be set forth in the body of the specilication.

Applicant desires the structure, thus far set forth, constructed of some. light material such as Wood, particularly `the runners l, for in constructing the runners of maid, the same may be broad Without addingr materially to the weight ot the device and in rnakilmr the runners of Wood they will not cut into and dig upthe `grround would runners of steel or similar material,

Extending across the front. of the deck of the sled is an angled butler or guard "dilate one portion thereof overlappingY the front of the deck and sernreil thereto by bolts 9 or other appropriate securing! means, and the other portion of the buli'er depending before the front of the sled to protect the same from damage.

Secured against the outer face of each of the runners 1 by means of pivotal bolts l() is one le;Y 11 of a draftI yoke .l2 to which any desired draft device, such as a tractor, may be hitched to ding the implement over the ground.

Positioned upon the central portion l of the deck is a. pair of spaced bearing blocks 18, secured by bolts 14 which extend through the deck as clearly shown .in Figure 3 of the, drawings. ',llhese bearing blocks 13 support the yoke l5 of a substantially U- shaped member indicated as a Whole by the numeral 16, the leg portions of which menr ber 16 normally extend toward the rear of the flevice in a substantially horizontal position. One leg of the device is turned up to .forni an actuatingrr handle 17 `While the other legi7 l5) has the terminal portion thereof, which extends a slight distance beyond the handle 17, turned outwardly `as at. 20 to form the crank shown.

Secured to the inner face of each runner l and depending into the Well 6 is a vertically slotted block 2l, these blocks being directly behind the rear edge of the central portion for the deck as is clearly shown in Figure 1 and in alignment one with the other. Supported in the slots 22 of these blocks 21 is a shaft 23 which extends across the Well o and sliglitly below the deck of the implement. This shaft 23 carries thereon a pair of rearwardly extendingr spaced arms 24 the ends of these arms being formed to provide bearings 25 and 26 respectiyely.` the bearings 25 having` the shaft 23 passed therethrough, While there is `extended through `and connectingr the bearings 26 a shaft 27' carryingr thereon a lister wheel 29. This wheel 28 formed to provide a hub upon each side thereof as indicated at 29. this hub being provided with oilholes 230 for the lubrication of the same upon the shaft Oil holes may also be provided in the bearings 25 to lubricate the same upon the shaft 223.

A brace bar 30 connects the arms 24 adjacent their rear ends, and extending across and connecting the arms 24 directly forwardly of the listerwheel 2S is a substantially T-shaped member 3l constituting a lift bar for the furrow opening mechanism which this structure constitutes.

Connectedy to the standard 32 of the T- shaped member 3l a link bar 33 which connects the lift member' to the crank 20 of the U-shaped member 16.

This mechanism which, as above stat-ed constitutes the furrow opening mechanism of the device, may be lifted clear of the ground when desired, by drawing the han dle 17 toward the front of the mechanism thus swingingr upwardly the crank end 20 of the arm 19 and drawingr upon the link to raise the mechanism clear of the ground.

Carried upon one of the arms 2l is a scraper knife 3l which contacts with the edge of the disc and acts to keep the same clean and clear of dirt and mud when the mechanism is in operation.

plant supportingr platform -lG are i,iarallel.

beams 8B and 3l), respectively, secured. to getlier by means of bolts 40 and of a length sufficient lo allow their ends to extend beyond the inner edge of the side planks 2l of the deck where they removaliily lit in the recesses 40 therein, and flush with 'the top thereof. The rear of the beams 39 is hingedly connected to the cross member T by hinges 4l to allow the joined beams to be raised when desired. A scraper blade 42 is provided for scraping` the earth back into the furrow to cover the plants after they have been placed therein, and this blade 12 is supported in the well (l by the if'ertical shaft 43 engaged to oscillate between the beams 3S and 39 and extended thereabove, whore it is bent at right angles to provide the horizontal shaft 44e which extends outwardly above the plank B of the deck as shown in Figures 1, 4 and The outer end of the shaft il is bent at right angles to form the vertical terminal portion 4G positioned over the plank 3 of the deck of the sled.

The `central portion ofthis vertical shaft- 46 extends through an elongat-ed slot V47 which extends 'longitudinally of a plate 48, the ends of which plate are-supported upon blocks 49 whichblocks 4are secured to the deck ofthe sled'by means of the vertical bolts 50, the heads 51 of whichare secured beneathfthe deck and the upper ends of the bolts extend `a substantial 4 distance aboveA -theplate 48 and carry about these extended bridge 56, this bridge 56 extending acrossl the slot 47 i and having its downturned and outwardly extended ends 57 supported upon' the plate 48 at its outer end and between the plate and the lower end of the spiral spring 42. The bolt 50 passes through the ends 57 of thisbridge member as clearly shown in Figure 7 and the downward pressure of the springs 52 thereupon tends to hold the ends 57 securely in posit-ion upon the plate 48. When it is desired to change the angle of the scraper blade 42,-the bridge 56 is grasped and raised against the tension of the springs 52 and the vertical shaft 46 is then moved forwardly or backwardly in the slot 47 to revolve the shaft 43 until the terminal end of the shaft 46 is `positioned to extend through one of the apertures Extending across the wall 6 from one plank 3 to the other plank3, is a locking beam 58 Awhich extends longitudinally of and across the forward edge of the beam V38, the ends of the beam 58 resting upon the deck of the sled, and one end thereof is pivotally secured thereto by the bolt 62. The other end has formed integral therewith and extending` from one side thereof the segment 63 which rests flat upon the plank 3 of the deck and is adapted to slide thereover. This segment 63 has a slot 64 throughout its length as shown in Figure l of the drawings.

Extending through the slot- 64 of the segment is a bolt 65 which passes through and is secured to the plank 3 of the deck ofthe sled and the upper end of this bolt 65 which is threaded, has threaded thereon the wing nut 66 by means of which the segment 63 may be tightened in any desired position upon the deck of the sled. The purpose of this lock bar 58 is as follows:

When the sled is traveling over ground not being worked and in which plants are not being set, it is desirable that parts of the device be lifted from the ground such as the disk 28 and the scraper blade 42. Means has already been provided for the raising of the disk 28 as explained above. In order to raise the blade 42 clear of the ground, the wing nut 66 is loosened andthe lock bar 58 is swung upon its pivot pin 62 until the segment 63is moved "as far forward as it will go, whereupon thebar 58 willbccome disengaged from the beamV 38 and this beam and the beam-39 to which it is bolted will be swung upwardly upon its hinges 4l until the -lower face of the'beam 38 is in a plane higher than the top of the lock bar 58, whereupon the lock bar 58 is swung back beneath ther beam 38 and secured in position. The beam 38 isthen swung down until it rests upon they top of the l`ock bar V58, whereupon the blade 42 will be suspended in the air above the ground as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Secured against the inner edge of each 0f they planks 3, adjacent the-rear edge of the cross member 7 and depending into the well 6 is va vertically slotted block 67 similar to the blocks 2l carriedin the same positionY and depending into the well at the forward part thereof. These blocks 67 receive in their slots 68 the ends of the cross shaft 69 as shown. This shaft 69 carries thereon a pair of spaced rearwardly,extending arms 70 similar to the arms 24 at the forward part of the sled, andeach of these arms 70 has its ends formed to provide bearings 71 and 72 as shown. The bearings 7l have extended therethrough the shaft 69 and the bearings 72 carry ashaft 73 upon which there is mounted to revolve a roller 74. the shaft 73 that when plants have been placed in the furrow made by the disc 28 and covered with earth by the blade 42, the roller 74 will pass over the loose Vearth to one side of the plant and firmly pack the earth down thereabout. A brace member 75 1s secured to and extended across between the arms 70 as shown.

Secured to the arms 70 is a frame 76V through which the roller 74 extends and against which roller the rear cross member of the frame 76 bears. This frame is of some resilient material such as metal so that thesame will be bent to maintain the cross bar of the frame in spring pressed engagement with the periphery ofthe vwheel 74 to keep the same clean of mud and earth.

From the foregoing description it may be seen that avery novel and efficient implement is provided for the planting of strawberry, tomato and other small plants, the same being accomplished without the usual fatigue accompanying this work as the operators ride upon the deck of the sled and while one operator upon one side assorts the plants and places them upon the plant rack 36, the other operator upon the opposite side of the sled takes the plants and sets them in the furrow cut by the wheel 28 and no further attention is given to the plants, for the covering blade 42 will then act to shove the dirtV into the furrow to cover This roller is so positioned upon` the plants and the wheel T-l, wliieli trails at tlie rear of' the sled, will act to tirinly peek the loose earth flown into l'lie furrow about the plant. Thus the only work (lone by the operators is tlie lifting oi' the plante from the platform and placing tlieui in position in the 'lurronx tbe implement f oinliletinnr the operation.

lll-atingy time Clereribel lv elaiin is:

lil-an agricultural inileuient. a row troverine' cleviee ol tbe rlraraeter let fortln coni` prisingan elongated beam mounted transversely ot saitl implement` an oscillatory shaftearrietl in Vertical position by said luy intention what beam and having" its lowel. end belltwto extencl torwardly and further having its upper end bent to provide a laterally extending arm having its terminal portions turned upwardly, a covering blade secured to seid bent lower entl, a retaining element about seid uptnrned terminal portion allowing limited movement o'l' the saine lo revolve said shaft, and means overlying said element for engagging tlie portion extending therethrough to hold tbe saine in any one of a plurality i olE positions.

In testimony whereof, ,l allix my signal ure liereto.

lVILLL/tltl Il. MCCARTN ICY. 

